Are the rich getting richer? Take our quiz on inequality and incomes.

A money changer shows some one-hundred U.S. dollar bills at an exchange booth in Tokyo November 8, 2010.

The income gap between rich and poor has widened in the United States and in many other advanced economies since the 1970s. The trend makes this a hot political topic at a time when middle-class families feel they are struggling to get ahead, and as some wonder whether inequality is harming economic growth. This quiz tests how big (or narrow!) your own "gap" is when it comes to knowing the economics and politics of income disparities from the French Revolution to the Great Recession.

1.
The average household in the 'top 1 percent' by income out-earned a typical 'bottom 90 percent' household by how much in 2012?

For comparison, in 1938, when America first introduced a minimum wage, the income of the top 1 percent was 25 times larger than that of the average “bottom 90” percenter, according to data derived from tax returns by researchers including Emmanuel Saez.

For comparison, in 1938, when America first introduced a minimum wage, the income of the top 1 percent was 25 times larger than that of the average “bottom 90” percenter, according to data derived from tax returns by researchers including Emmanuel Saez.

For comparison, in 1938, when America first introduced a minimum wage, the income of the top 1 percent was 25 times larger than that of the average “bottom 90” percenter, according to data derived from tax returns by researchers including Emmanuel Saez.

For comparison, in 1938, when America first introduced a minimum wage, the income of the top 1 percent was 25 times larger than that of the average “bottom 90” percenter, according to data derived from tax returns by researchers including Emmanuel Saez.